4. Theo
Theo
My biceps are on fire this morning. I’ve officially made it to Friday of my first week of school.
So far, I’ve managed to fall into an easy, enjoyable rhythm with teaching, join a morning workout group with Principal Adam Renner and Coach Everett Long, and not eyeball my favorite student’s silky thighs.
Okay, so the last part’s a lie.
It all started Tuesday when that fuckface put his hands on her.
I’d seen the crude, muddy smears on her upper thigh that covered so much of her flesh.
She was shaking and clearly upset by the exchange.
Being covered in dirt wasn’t enough punishment as far as I was concerned, but Addison didn’t want to pursue it any further.
Ever since then, I can’t keep my eyes off her. I find myself watching every student, trying to be two steps ahead of them to thwart any threats.
Why do these kids keep picking on her?
She’s gorgeous for fuck’s sake. I thought kids picked on the losers or the kids who smelled bad. Addison smells like expensive grapefruit whatever the hell that means. I just know it’s unique and powerful. I’m growing way too fond of it.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Since I’m early, I go ahead and sneak it out to take a peek.
Everett: Nabbed the big one this morning. He gets to see my pretty face all next week. Figured you’d want to hear it.
I grin at my phone. I like Adam and Everett.
Adam is more reserved, and well, nice, which is good considering he’s my boss.
Everett, on the other hand, is an asshole to everyone.
Everyone except me and Adam. Mary Ellen always accused me of being pathetic because I had no friends and now I have two.
I’m glad I casually mentioned Duke being a tyrant in my class so that Everett would be on his ass.
Me: I owe you one. Need me to stay after today so you can bug out early to be with the fam?
Everett: I knew I liked you. Thanks, man.
Staying after school for detention is worth knowing he got Duke’s big ass for something. It might not be for assaulting Addison, but it’s something.
As if summoned by thoughts alone, I get a whiff of grapefruit. I snap my head up to find Addison gliding into the room, her long, toned legs on full display. When our eyes meet, she grins at me.
“No. Phones. Ever.” She sighs dramatically. “Practice what you preach, Langford.”
I shove my phone into my slacks and arch an eyebrow at her. “Are you always this sassy?”
“Always. You’ve been seeing a side of me that doesn’t come out often. Sassy is the real me. It’s my middle name, in fact.”
We both chuckle as she takes a seat at the picnic table.
“You’re doing better,” I say, still smiling but with more seriousness. “I’m glad to see it.”
“A bit,” she admits as she pulls off her backpack to set it beside her. “It’s been a rough week.”
“Want to talk about it?”
She opens her mouth like she might do just that, but then several students enter the greenhouse, loud voices carrying. Her body stiffens. “Another time.”
As much as I want to push, I know I can’t.
Not if I really want to find out what’s been going on with her.
These other students know, though, to a certain degree, because they all give her nasty looks.
My blood boils and I irrationally want to grab each one of them up by their shirt to demand what their problem is with Addison.
“I’ll hold you to it,” I say under my breath so only she can hear.
I hold her gaze long enough her cheeks turn pink, and satisfaction is thrumming through me. I’m playing a dangerous game with her, but something deep in my gut tells me to protect this girl at all costs.
As if I could ever argue against that.
Detention isn’t bad. I’m happy to help a fellow teacher and new friend out. If it means he gets to go home earlier to see his family, I’m good with that. At least one of us has a happy family to go home to.
While the students sleep or work on homework, I open my laptop to look through the FFA and Greenhouse Club applications.
My heart sinks when I see only one in each folder.
For FFA, school policy requires at least five participants.
It’s a bummer. Luckily, Greenhouse Club is on my own dime and time, so I can still hold it even if it’s just one person.
Addison Monahan.
She’s the only applicant on each one.
My stomach tightens with nerves, and I wonder what the hell that’s about. I feel bad I’ll have to tell her FFA is out. A part of me is already looking forward to time alone with her in the greenhouse.
Sick fucker.
It’s not like that, though.
Liar.
You can’t keep your eyes off her legs or her supple lips that always look deliciously wet.
I shift in my chair behind the desk, fully aware my cock is thickening in my slacks. It’s ridiculously inappropriate. Thinking about Mary Ellen’s cruel sneers and vicious words has it flagging. I knew she was useful for something.
“Anyone want to join FFA or Greenhouse Club?” I ask to the silent classroom.
Several people laugh as if I’m joking and a few emphatically shake their heads no.
Looks like it’s just me and Addison.
Or I could cancel Greenhouse Club altogether. That would be the wise thing to do. Yes, I have to do it.
My heat sinks but I ignore it, determined to be strong against my inappropriate desires. Having Addison in my classroom with a room full of people is hard enough. I don’t know how I’d do if it were just the two of us.
The detention bell rings and the kids bolt out of the room damn near fast enough to make my head spin. I gather my stuff and head for the faculty parking lot. Someone’s tires squeal as they peel out, leaving a solitary car in the lot.
I know that car.
It’s Addison’s.
Alarm has me tossing my crap in the truck and then striding her way. She’s looking down at her phone as the air conditioner blasts her in the face. Her blonde hair dances around her face.
I drum my fingers on her windshield, startling her. Her frown almost immediately melts into a bright grin that does things to me. I feel it right in the center of my chest. A sucker punch.
Since I need to have a conversation with her, I walk around to the passenger side and open the door. “Got a minute?”
Her cheeks turn pink as she nods. “Get in. Too hot to stand there with the door open.”
I slide into the seat and close the door. Inside her vehicle, I’m flooded with her scent. Like a fool, I inhale it, filling every inch of my lungs.
“What’s up?” she asks, arching a neatly plucked brow at me. “Heard you had detention.”
I smirk at her. “You heard correctly. Most entertaining forty-five minutes of my life.”
“I’ve never had detention, so I can only wonder about the happenings.” She barks out a dry laugh. “Kind of funny that I’ve been expelled but never had detention.” As soon as she says it, she winces. “So, what did you need to talk about?”
I want to probe on the expulsion, but I sidestep it for now. “Wanted to discuss FFA and Greenhouse Club.”
Her features brighten. “Greenhouse Club will be fun. Your class is my favorite. I even texted with my dad some about what I could plant at Mom’s house.”
So much for turning her down now.
“You’re the only one who’s excited about it,” I say with a sigh. “But we can still make it fun. Better than sitting in your car all afternoon.”
“Just me and you?” She bites down on her bottom lip, looking at me with hope in her eyes.
“Just us.”
Idiot. So much for doing the right thing…
I realize this is a bad idea and one I won’t bring up to my new friends, but I don’t put a stop to it. Addison needs a friend. I can sense it. Just because I’m her teacher doesn’t mean I can’t be there for her.
You just want her all to yourself, Theo.
“FFA has a minimum requirement of five students, unfortunately,” I say, ignoring my inner taunting. “So, that one is a no-go.”
She gives me a small shrug. “That’s okay. At least we still have Greenhouse Club.”
We.
We’re a “we” now.
Warmth coils in my gut. I hate how much I like talking to her and thinking about spending alone time with her.
“Thanks for being so kind to me, Mr. Langford,” she says, eyebrows pinching. “It’s meant more than you know.”
“Theo,” I blurt out. “When it’s just us, you can call me Theo.”
Her lips quirk up on one side. “Theo. I like that name.”
Now I’ve crossed a line. But, having her call me Mr. Langford all the time, especially in a private setting like this, feels too formal. It’s also a reminder that I’m her teacher and she’s my student.
But Theo?
Her calling me Theo sounds like we’re friends.
“Theo,” she murmurs, voice husky and too sexy. “There are things you don’t know about me. Bad things.”
I stiffen and frown at her. “There can’t possibly be anything other than good when it comes to you. You’re a good girl.”
Again, with my stupid mouth.
Her cheeks turn a pretty shade of crimson, and she smiles shyly at me. “I always thought I was. You make me think I am.”
“You are,” I practically spit out. “Don’t forget it either.”
“I’m hungry,” she says. “Want to grab something to eat?”
My mind flashes to a meal between a certain pair of golden thighs. Oh, fuck no. I straighten my spine and attempt to infuse authority in my tone. “No. I don’t think that would be appropriate.”
Hypocritical fucker.
Her face falls and she nods, tearing her gaze from mine. “Of course. You’re totally right. Sorry, I wasn’t meaning it like that. You’re you and I’m me. I was just hungry. I’ll go now.”
She’s rambling.
Nervous rambling.
I reach out, like I might touch her face, and then jerk my hand back. I’m an idiot who can’t think straight around this girl. After clearing my throat, I shove the door open.
“For the record,” I say, still unable to meet her pretty blue eyes, “a younger me would have died at an opportunity to have dinner with a girl like you. Died, Addison. Trust me, it’s not you.”
“Okay. Thanks for that.”
Then, because I’m clearly stupid as fuck, I say, “I’ll need your phone number, though. For Greenhouse Club.”
I’m just making up Greenhouse Club rules as I go.
After she rattles it off and I save it into my phone under “Good Girl,” I give her a quick wave. She drives off before I make it back to my truck. Once at my vehicle, I gently bang my head against the hot metal on the side of my truck cab.
Coming here was supposed to be a fresh start, not a whole new set of fuckery.
Maybe I’m the problem and Mary Ellen was right.
I’m not as good of a man as I thought I was.
Since my stomach is now growling and I can’t get a certain girl out of my head, I make the decision to drive to Penny’s house. At least visiting my nephews and sister will clear my head. It always does.
I’m sorry, Addison.
I wish things were different because I’d really love to get to know a sweet, intelligent, drop-dead gorgeous girl like you.